Outlet box



June 23, 192s. m5435116 H. G. KNODERER OUTLET Box Filed May 2, 1923 In Vez/for r Homer G. Knoderer,

Efszitorney Patented June 23, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,543,576 PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER G. KNODERER, OF ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORTO GENERAL ELEC- TRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWT-YORK.

OUT-LET BOX.

Application led May 2,

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, I-IoMER Gr. KNODERER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Englewood, county of Bergen, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outlet Boxes, of which the following is a'specication.

The present invention relates to electric wiring of houses and more especially to devices adapted to be mounted on walls and ceilings at points where the electric conductors normally lying within a wall or partition are brought out for connection with chandeliers and fixtures and generally known as outlet boxes.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved outlet box to which the armored electric cables or conduits may be introduced and securely connected with facility and the construction ofl which shall be strong, simple and of low cost of manufacture.

One embodiment of the invention is shown inthe accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an inclined section through the box taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and with the locking dog in operative engagement with an electrical cable; Fig. 2 is a vertical sec' tion taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is an underside plan view'thereof; Fig. 1 is a plan view of a detached part, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view thereof. l

The main portion of the box is circular in form and of cast iron comprising a bottom 1 with an integral peripheral flange 2 and a threaded central stud 3 for the attachmentl therewith of a fixture or chandelier. The bottom has therein a plurality of holes 4 for screws by which it may be attached to the surface of a wall or ceiling and two pairs of inclined, oppositely disposed cab'le apertures 5 normally closed by integral disks or plugs 6 adapted to be displaced as needed by a slight hammer blow. 'On the lower side of the bottom 1, adjacent each cable aperture, is a correspondingly inclined arc-shaped bracket 7, and between each pair of cable apertures is a threaded hole 8 for the reception of a screw 9 and concentric therewith is a helical cam 10.

Two separate castings 11 and 12, each having two U-shaped bushings 13 spaced to register withv a pair of `cable entrance apertures 5,- are positioned in the lbox by means ofcentral apertured lugs 14 thereon through 1923. serial No'. 636,240.

which the screws 9 pass. Each bushing has at its outer end an inturned flange 15, against the inner shoulder of which the end of the conduit or cable armor 16 is adapted to abut while the conductors and their insulation 17 project through and beyond the flange. Concentric with the lug aperture of each casting is a helical cam 18.

A locking dog 19 having opposite radial shoulders 2O and eccentrically rounded ends 21 is mounted upon each of the screws 9 with its radial shoulders adapted to ride upon the helical cams 10 and 19 so that upon turning up of the screw 9 the dog is caused to rotate and its eccentric ends impinge upon the conduit or armor 16 of a cable or cables located in the adjacent aperture or apertures 5 and as the screw is forced home the cable will be effectually gripped between the end of the dog and the wall of the bushing opposite as shown in Fig. 1.

In order that the bushing members 11 and 12 may be held fast to the box prior to the coupling of the cables therewith, flat ledges 22 and 23 are formed on the bushing castings and the box at the outer ends of the helical cams 10 and 18 and upon which the dogs 19 are clamped by screws 9 as indicated in Fig. 3.

To install the box, one or more of the disks 6 will be displaced according to number and disposition of cables to be connected by means of a hammer blow upon a tool such as a screw driver inserted through the bushings 13, the box is then secured to the surface ofthe wall or ceiling by screws inserted in the holes 4:, the clamping screws 9 loosened and the dogs turned clockwise until their radial shoulders stand opposite the helical cams 10 and 18 and then upon turning home the screws 9' the dogs will rotate as they move over the cams and the eccentric ends 21 thereof impinge upon the sides of the conduits or cable armors and bindthem between said ends and the opposite walls of the bushings 13. The electrolier or other fixture will be attached to the threaded stud 3 and its conductor wires joined to the cable wires.

While I have shown and described the best embodiment of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An outlet box having an aperture for the reception of a conductor conduit or cable, a helical cam adjacent said aperture, a locking dog for engaging said conduit or cable, and means upon which said dog is pivoted operating to actuate it rotatably along the helical cam. 2. An outlet `box having an aperture for the reception of a conductor conduit or cable, a helical cam adjacent said aperture, a locking dog having a shoulder to engage said cam, and screw means upon which said dog is pivoted and operable to move said dog rotatably along said cam andinto locking engagement with said conduit or cable.

3. An outlet box having an aperture for the reception. of conductor conduit or cable, a bushing disposed about the inner end of said aperture, a helical Vcam adjacent said aperture, a locking dog adapted to rotate into the interior of said bushing, and means to force said dog along said cam to effect rotation thereof.

4. An outlet box having two apertures for the reception of conductor conduit or cable, a helical cam disposed between said apertures, a double ended locking dog therefor, and pivotal means for said dog located coaxially of said cam and operable to cause said dog to move rotatably along said cam into locking engagement with saidv conduit or cable.

5. An outlet box having two apertures for the reception of conductor conduit or cable, a detachable member vhaving two bushings disposed in front of the inner ends of said apertures, cams on said box and said detachable member, a double ended locking dog having shoulders adapted to engage said cams, and screw means for causing said dog rotatably to traverse said cams'.

6. An outlet box having two apertures for the reception of conductor conduit or cable, a detachable member having two bushings disposed in front of the inner ends of said apertures, cams and ledges on said box and said member, a double ended locking dog.

adapted to 'overlie said ledges and having shoulders adapted to engage said cams, and screw means for holding said dog against said ledges and for causing it rotatably to traverse said cams.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set. 

